White Heat (BBC-2 2012, Sam Claflin, Claire Foy)

White Heat charts across the lives of seven friends from the mid 1960’s through to 1990.

The series, which is semi-autobiographical, begins in 1965 when a group of seven young students move into a house together in Tufnell Park in the heart of London. There is rebel with a cause Jack, intelligent feminist Charlotte, fragile beauty Lilly, medical student Jay, electronics enthusiast Alan, law student Victor and big-hearted Orla.

The series follows them over four decades as their lives, loves and destinies are shaped by the political events of each era – from the death of Churchill, the union strife of the Seventies, the ascendancy of Thatcher, the Falklands, Aids and the end of the Cold War. Their interwoven personal lives played against the backcloth of these crucial events converge to make them the people they are today.

All sounds very Our Friends In The North but you can’t beat a good slice of epic ordinary life-ness can you. Head of BBC Drama Commissioning Ben Stephen said “The cream of new British acting talent have been cast to star in Paula Milne’s White Heat, an epic story of our times told through the eyes of seven amazing characters, which will continue BBC Two’s commitment to original drama in 2012.”

production details
UK | BBC2 – ITV Studios

NUMBER OF EPISODES: 6 | AIRDATE: 8 March – 12 April 2012

WRITER: Paula Milne | EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kate Bartlett, Paula Milne | PRODUCER: Elinor Day | DIRECTOR: John Alexander

cast
SAM CLAFLIN as Jack Walsh
MICHAEL KITCHEN as Old Jack
CLAIRE FOY as Charlotte Pew
JULIET STEVENSON as Old Charlotte
LEE INGLEBY as Alan
PAUL COPLEY as Old Alan
MYANNA BURING as Lily
LINDSAY DUNCAN as Old Lily
REECE RITCHIE as Jay
RAMON TIKARAM as Old Jay
JESSICA GUNNING as Orla
SORCHA CUSACK as Old Orla
DAVID GYASI as Victor
HUGH QUARSHIE as Old Victor
TAMSIN GREIG
RICHARD LINTERN as Miles
JEREMY NORTHAM as Edward Walsh
JULIAN BARRATT as Derek Bowden
GEOFFREY LEESLEY as Frank